Train drivers continue to strike for safety, with their eyes on the Urda accident

A psychologist has urged caution regarding the emotional responses of children affected by the recent railway disaster in Urda, Toledo province. Esperanza Dongil, a university professor and researcher, stated that a child crying for a missing relative and then asking for snacks five minutes later does not indicate an absence of suffering. Her comments address the psychological impact on minors who were aboard the trains involved in the collision or have lost family members in the tragedy. Dongil authored a psychological guide initially created for children and adolescents impacted by the previous railway accident in Adamuz. She explained that this tool remains useful for supporting victims of the current incident. Her primary objective is to help reduce symptoms among the youngest survivors or prevent them from evolving into more pathological conditions, such as post-traumatic stress disorder. She noted that little public attention had been paid to these minors until now, describing the situation as pouring water onto wet ground due to the recurrence of such trauma. The accident occurred on the high-speed rail line connecting Madrid and Seville near Urda. Hours after the crash, the Spanish Railways group faced a new day of tension due to a strike called by train drivers. The Spanish Union of Train Drivers and Railway Helpers, known as Semaf, maintained its call for a 24-hour work stoppage scheduled for Thursday, October 29. Approximately 6,000 workers within the Renfe group participated in the action, which ran from 00:01 to 23:59 local time. Semaf expressed deep concern over the event and offered condolences to the victims and their families. The union stated that it did not yet know the final extent of the damage or the condition of the drivers in the cab of the Renfe train involved in the collision. Consequently, the organization declined to speculate on the causes of the crash, urging prudence until official investigations yielded results. It emphasized that the priority was rescuing victims and supporting their families. Despite the gravity of the accident, the union proceeded with the strike, arguing that the mobilization focused on railway safety demands and the fulfillment of commitments made by administrations following prior incidents. Union representatives listed specific demands, including improved protocols for risk situations, better operational communications, the hiring of additional drivers, psychological care after hit-and-run incidents, and increased reliability of rolling stock. They cited a perceived blockage in agreements aimed at enhancing safety. In response, Renfe advised passengers against traveling unless essential. The company argued that many of the union’s requests exceeded its competence and asserted that it had fulfilled promises made after the Adamuz accident while reinforcing its staff in recent months. Transport authorities established minimum service levels to mitigate disruption. Commuter services in Madrid would operate at 75 percent capacity during peak hours, specifically from 06:00 to 09:00, 13:30 to 15:30, and 18:30 to 20:30. For the remainder of the day, commuter services would run at 50 percent of normal capacity. Medium-distance trains would operate at 65 percent, while high-speed and long-distance services would maintain 73 percent of scheduled runs. Freight transport would see only 26 percent of usual operations. Local commuter operators warned that services would be heavily affected throughout the day and recommended alternative transportation methods. Renfe arranged alternative transport services to manage the disruption caused by the Urda accident.